Apparatus for refining, aging, mellowing, and purifying alcoholic liquors.



N0. 853.071; 4 PATENTED MAY 7, 1907. J. F. DUFFY.

APPARATUS FORREPINING, AGING, MBLLOWING,AND PURIFYING ALGOHOLIG LIQUORS.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.25, 1905.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET Jtamizer 30 29 Canals/Isa- A TTOHNE YS WITNESSES:

No. 853,071. PATENTBD MAY 7, 1907.

J. F. DUFFY.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING, AGING, MELLOWING,AND PURIFYING ALCOHOLICLIQUORS.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 25, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

WATER ovcfinow' WATER INLET WATER STEAM UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

JAMES FRANKLIN DUFFY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINDIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRDTOHIMSELF, ON E-THIRD TO JOHN ANDERSON DUFFY, AND ONE-THIRD TO JAMESFRANKLIN DUFFY, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

. APPARATUS FOR REFINING, AGING. MELLOWING, AND PURIFYING ALCOHOLICLIQUORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907. A

' Mellowing, and Purifying Alcoholic Liquors,

, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to perfect a system in whichautomatically-operating agents are involved. for aging, refining,Inellowing and purifying wines and liquors, the method employed being acontinuous one, commencing at the still or rectifiers and end ing at thereceiving tank or cistern from which the liquor is drawn offintobarrels.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide for the return of theliquor from the terminal receptacle or receiving cistern to the initialreceptacle for a second treatment should the liquor prove unfit when itreaches the final receptacle of the plant. v

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out inthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a plant used in carryingoutv themethod; and Fig. '2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of theatomizer, condenser and container for the heating coil. r

A represents a still, A a worm, A a rectifier ortail box and A thereceiving tank or cistern of the distilling plant. The apparatusemployed for carrying out the improved method is placed between therectifier or tail box and the receiving tank or cistern, and consistsofthe following parts, all tanks and valvesbeing provided with suitablelooks.

The tank B is connected directly with the rectifier A bymeans of asuitable pipe or pipes 10. The tank B receives the' liquor flowing fromthe rectifier and serves as an equalizing tank to take u any differencebetween the flow of liquid om the rectifier or tail box and the flow ofliquid through the apparatus.

One or more, usually two aerating tanks C and C are employed to receivethe liquor from the equalizing tank B, for the purpose of mellowing theliquor and preferably a single outlet pipe 11 is carried from theequalizing tank, being connected with the two aerating tanks by branches12 and 13, having suitable valves. Each aeratin tank C and C is providedwith an indepen entoutlet, which outlets are designated respectively as14 and 15, and each of the said outlets is provided with an air supplypi e 16. The outlet pipes 14 and 15 are usua 1y connected with a singleline pipe 17, also provided with suitable valves.

In the operation of this portion of the apparatus, when the aeratingtank C is nearly full, compressed air is. introduced into the bottom ofthe tank in suitable quantities through the air pipe 16 connectedtherewith, said pipe being provided with a suitable check valve toprevent any outward flow of liquid; and after a short-period of aerationdetermined by experiment the air is cut off and the liquor is started tothe line pipe 17.

The second aeratin tank C is operated in like manner, but w le theliquor-from the tank C is'fiowing through the other portions of theapparatus the tank C is being filled with liquor and the liquor thereinis aerated. In this manner the flow of liquor through the apparatus isuninterrupted.

An air-mixi' valve 18 of any approved construction is ocated in the linepipe 17, and said valve is provided with an alr-supply pipe 19, tofurther aerate the liquor, and

such introduction of air effects a perfect mixture of air and li uor.

' D represents a heatingtank and contains a copper coil 20, which is acontinuation of the line pi e 17, and the mixed liquor and air enter thecoil at the top and passes out atithe bottom through'a branchor outletpipe v21. The'heating tank is provided with a thermometer 2 2, readablefrom the outside, and

contains suflicient water to cover the coil 20,

the water beingintroduced therein through a supply pipe 23, entering thetank at the top. The' tank D is 'further provided with an overflow pipe24.

The water is heated by steam introduced through a ipe 25 which entersthe tank at the top an extends within a predetermined distance of thebottom. The water inlet from.

Valves 37 and 38 are usually placed in the pipe 23 may be used tocontrol the temperature of the water when the temperature become toohigh.

, An atomizer E and a connected condenser E are employed in connectionwith the heating tank D, and a branch pipe 21 from the COIl enters theatomizer shell and terminates in an atomizing head 26, which atomizesthe liquor flowing from the coil 20, and at such time the liquor meets ajet of cold air from ajet pipe 27 passed'into the atomizer shell.

The liquor is drawn off from the atomizer through a ipe 28 into areservoir F, also in the form 0 a tank, while the air and the vapor ofthe impurities rise and pass into the condenser E above; The condenser Econsists of a cold water jacket 29 having connected therewith Wateroutlet and overflow ipes 30 and 31, a condensin chamber 32 eing formedwithin the j ac ket, and the tubes 32 of the said chamber deliver theproducts of condensation into the auxiliary chamber 33, which latter isconnected with a catch receptacle 34 ada ted to receive the condensedimpurities. The liquoris drawn off from the reservoir F through anoutlet pipe 35 connecting with a linepipe 36, which pipe 36 is connectedwith the receiving tank or cistern A, the barrels being filled therelinepipe, 36 one at each side of the outlet pipe 35; and the line pipe 36'isconnected with an airlift G, which in its turn is connected with theinitial or equalizing tank B by a pipe or pipes 39, so that wheneverdeliquor from the still to the receptacle desired by operatingthe'valves 37 and 38 the liquor may be run through the apparatus asecond time.

It will be observed that the apparatus con stitutes a continuous chainof receptacles from therectifiers to the receiving tank; and that themethod employed is that of a continuous uninterrupted treatment of thesigned to receive the finished product.

.. It may here be stated that by rectifier is meant the vessel so knownin the art,'and consisting of a receptacle containing powdered charcoal.Liquor being entered at the top and passing through the charcoal findsan exit at the bottom. This vessel is in use in the manufacture ofspirits (alcohol) but is not used in the manufacture of whisky.

In the manufacture of whisky the connec-.

tion of the worm of the still instead of with a rectifier is made withwhatis known as a tail box, occupying the exact position and performingthe same functions as a rectifier. Therefore the two terms aresynonymous andthe use of either is contemplated, the feature of theinvention being the direct connection of a receivin tank and itsdirectly' connected chain 0 aerating, heating and atomizing devices withthe rectifier or tail box. Further, with reference to the tank B, itsfunction is to take up any difference in the flow of liquid between thedistilling and refining apparatus, as for exam le in the event the hquorflows from the stil fasterthan it passes throu h the refining apparatus,said tank B ta es up the sur lus.

be air lift com rises a closed vessel having supply and de ivery pipesand air pipes. In using said lift li uid is allowed to enter the vesselin any desired quantities after which the valve in the supply pipe isclosed. Air under pressure is then admitted to the vessel through thepipes 40, thus driving the liquid out through the delivery pipe.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent,- v

1. In an apparatus for treating liquors, the combination with arectifier or tail box, and

a receiving tank having'a connection therebetween, of aerating andheating devices interposed in the said connection, and an atomizing andcondensing device in connection with the heating device.

2. In an apparatus for treating liquors, the combination with arectifier or tail box, and. areceiving tank, having connectiontherewith, of equalizing and aerating tanks and heating devicesinterposed in said connection, and an atoinizing device in connectionwith the heating device.

3. In an apparatus for treating li uors, the combination with arectifier ortail ox, and

a receiving tank having a connection therewith, of equalizing andaerating tanks, and

heating devices interposed in the connection between the receiving tankand the equalizing tank, an atomizing and condensing device inconnection with the heating device, a

connection between the equalizer and the receiving tank, and an air-liftinterposed in the connection for returning the liquors to the e ualizingtank from the receiving tank. 4. %n apparatus for the treatment ofliquors the combination with the rectifier or tail-box and the receivingtank, an equalizing tank connected with the rectifier, aerating tanksconnected With the equalizing tank, means for supplying com ressed airto the liquor in the aerating tan s, a worm leading from the aeratingtanks, means for supplying heat to'the worm, and an atomizer connectedwith the worm, and having a con denser in connection therewith saidatomizer being connected with thereceiving tank.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses:

' JAMES FRANKLIN DUFFY.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. DUFFY, GEORGE WILLIAMS.

